Modeling a ring network using a ring object

ABSTRACT

Modeling a ring network of a network system includes creating a ring object that models the ring network. The network system includes a network element that has components. The ring object includes provisioning properties, where a provisioning property describes configuring a component to become a member of the ring network. A component is associated with the ring object to allow the component to become a member of the ring network, where the associated component is allowed to receive packets communicated by the ring network. The ring object is stored at memory of the network element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of optical networks andmore specifically to modeling a ring network using a ring object.

BACKGROUND

A communication network includes network elements that route packetsthrough the network. Connections among the components of a networkelement are managed in order to properly route the packets. As anexample, when a component of a network element is added or removed, theconnections are re-established in order to properly route packets withthe added or removed component.

Known techniques for managing connections of a network element includemanually entering the connections for the network element. These knowntechniques, however, may be inefficient in certain situations. It isgenerally desirable to have efficient methods for managing connectionsof network elements.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with the present invention, disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous techniques for managing connections may bereduced or eliminated.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, modeling a ringnetwork of a network system includes creating a ring object that modelsthe ring network. The network system includes a network element that hascomponents. The ring object includes provisioning properties, where aprovisioning property describes configuring a component to become amember of the ring network. A component is associated with the ringobject to allow the component to become a member of the ring network,where the associated component is allowed to receive packetscommunicated by the ring network. The ring object is stored at memory ofthe network element.

Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technicaladvantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may be that a ringnetwork may be modeled by a ring object that is stored at a node of thering network. Modeling a ring network by a ring object may provide formore efficient provisioning of network elements. In addition, the ringobject may provide for more efficient identification of problems withthe ring network. Furthermore, the ring object may provide for moreefficient gathering and reporting of statistics describing the ringnetwork.

Certain embodiments of the invention may include none, some, or all ofthe above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantagesmay be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network system that includesembodiments of ring networks that may be modeled by ring objects;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a model of aring network;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network that includes anetwork element that has a controller that manages the connections ofthe network element;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method ofmanaging connections in response to the addition of a component to anetwork element that may be used with the network element of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method ofmanaging connections in response to the removal of a component from anetwork element that may be used with the network element of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are bestunderstood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network system 10 that includesembodiments of ring networks that may be modeled by ring objects. A ringobject may be used to model a ring network to provide for more efficientmanagement of the connections of network elements of the ring network.Moreover, a network element of the ring network may include a controllerthat automatically manages connections of the network element.

According to the illustrated embodiment, network system 10 communicatesinformation through signals. A signal may refer to an optical signaltransmitted as light pulses. As an example, an optical signal may have afrequency of approximately 1550 nanometers and a data rate of 10, 20,40, or over 40 gigabits per second. A signal may communicate informationin packets. A packet may comprise a bundle of data organized in aspecific way for transmission, and a frame may comprise the payload ofone or more packets organized in a specific way for transmission. Apacket may carry any suitable information such as voice, data, audio,video, multimedia, control, signaling, other information, or anycombination of the preceding. The packets may comprise any suitablemultiplexed packets, such as time division multiplexed (TDM) packets.

According to the illustrated embodiment, network system 10 includes oneor more ring networks 20. A ring network may refer to a network ofcommunication devices that has a ring topology. According to oneembodiment, ring network 20 may comprise an optical fiber ring. Ringnetwork 20 may utilize protocols such as a resilient packet ring (RPR)protocol. An RPR protocol may refer to a protocol for ring-basedframe/packet transport, where frames/packets are added, passed through,or dropped at each node/station. According to one embodiment, ringnetwork 20 may utilize RPR/Ethernet or RPR/Synchronous Optical Network(SONET).

A ring network 20 may include network elements 24 coupled by fibers 26as shown. A network element 24 may include any suitable device operableto route packets to or from ring network 20. Examples of networkelements 24 include dense wavelength division multiplexers (DWDMs),access gateways, endpoints, softswitch servers, trunk gateways, accessservice providers, Internet service providers, or other device operableto route packets to or from ring network 20.

According to the illustrated embodiment, network element 24 includescomponents such as one or more stations 28, a controller 32, and amemory 36. A station 28 may represent a component operable to addpackets to or drop packets from ring network 20. According to oneembodiment, station 28 may comprise an RPR station, and may be embodiedin a card that may be added to or removed from network element 24.Station 28 has one or more ports, for example, one or more ports.

Controller 32 controls the operation of network element 24. According toone embodiment, controller 32 manages the connections between thecomponents of network element 24. A connection may refer to a path froma first component to a second component along which packets may becommunicated.

According to the embodiment, controller 32 establishes whether aconnection initiation event has occurred, and manages connections ofnetwork element 24 in response to the event. A connection initiationevent may refer to an event, such as the addition or removal of acomponent, that initiates a deletion or creation or both deletion andcreation of one or more connections. As an example, a connectioninitiation event may refer to the addition or removal a station 28, aswitch, or other component.

“Addition of a component” may refer to any suitable point of the processwhen a component is added. As an example, a component may be regarded asadded when the interfaces of the component are coupled to appropriateinterfaces of network element 24. As another example, a component may beregarded added when the component is activated after the appropriateinterfaces have been coupled. “Removal of a component” may refer to anysuitable point of the process when a component is removed. As anexample, a component may be regarded as removed when the interfaces ofthe component are decoupled from appropriate interfaces of networkelement 24. As another example, a component may be regarded as removedwhen the component is deactivated, even if the appropriate interfacesare coupled. As another example, a component may be regarded removedwhen the component fails to properly communicate packets, such as whenthe component experiences a failure.

Controller 32 automatically manages connections of network element 24 inresponse to a connection initiation event. As a first example,controller 32 may provision network element 24 when a component is addedto network element 24. As a second example, controller 32 may delete andcreate connections so a component may be removed from network element24. As a third example, controller 32 may reroute packets to bypass afailed component. Controller 32 may manage connections of networkelement 24 according to any suitable method. Example methods aredescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Memory 36 stores information used by controller 32. “Memory” may referto any structure operable to store and facilitate retrieval ofinformation used by controller 32, and may comprise Random Access Memory(RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), a magnetic drive, a disk drive, a CompactDisk (CD) drive, a Digital Video Disk (DVD) drive, removable mediastorage, any other suitable data storage medium, or a combination of anyof the preceding.

According to one embodiment, memory 36 may store information about theportion of ring network 20 coupled to network element 24. Components ofnetwork element 24 that are members of a particular ring network 20 maybe associated with a ring object that models the ring network 20. Forexample, station 28 a of ring network 20 b may be associated with thering object that models ring network 20 b to indicate that station 28 ais a member of ring network 20 b.

A ring object includes provisioning properties that describe how themembers of ring network 20 are to be provisioned. Properties mayinclude, for example, bandwidth and encapsulation properties.

The ring object may be used for any suitable purpose. According to oneembodiment, since the members of ring network 20 are associated with aring object, information about ring network 20 may be readily reportedusing the associated ring object. As an example, a problem with a memberof a ring network 20 may be reported using the associated ring object. Aproblem may comprise, for example, a failure of a member. As anotherexample, statistics for ring network 20 may be generated and reportedaccording to the associated ring object. Statistics may refer to datadescribing the performance of ring network 20. Example statistics mayinclude data flow rate, amount and type of failures, informationtransported, data usage, other data, or any combination of thepreceding.

Fibers 26 may refer to any suitable fiber operable to transmit a signal.According to one embodiment, a fiber 26 may represent an optical fiber.An optical fiber typically comprises a cable made of silica glass orplastic. The cable may have an outer cladding material around an innercore. The inner core may have a slightly higher index of refraction thanthe outer cladding material. The refractive characteristics of the fiberoperate to retain a light signal inside of the fiber.

A ring network 20 may have any suitable number of fibers 26, forexample, two fibers 26. As an example, the first fiber 26 traverses aring network 20 in one direction, and the second fiber traverses ringnetwork 20 in the other direction. A ring segment may refer to theportion of fibers 26 between network elements 24, and may be designatedby the specific ports of network elements coupled by the ring segment.

A component of network system 10 may include an interface, logic,memory, other component, or any suitable combination of the preceding.“Interface” may refer to any suitable structure of a device operable toreceive input for the device, send output from the device, performsuitable processing of the input or output or both, or any combinationof the preceding, and may comprise one or more ports, conversionsoftware, or both.

“Logic” may refer to hardware, software, other logic, or a combinationof the preceding. Logic manages the operation of a device, and maycomprise, for example, a processor. “Processor” may refer to anysuitable device operable to execute instructions and manipulate data toperform operations.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to network system 10without departing from the scope of the invention. The components ofnetwork system 10 may be integrated or separated according to particularneeds. Moreover, the operations of network system 10 may be performed bymore, fewer, or other devices. Additionally, operations of networksystem 10 may be performed using any suitable logic. As used in thisdocument, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of asubset of a set.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a model 50 ofring network 20. Model 50 includes member objects that represent themembers of ring network 20. Each member object may have an identifierthat uniquely identifies the member object. According to the illustratedembodiment, model 50 includes a ring object 60, one or more fibersegment objects 62, one or more line unit objects 64, and a networkelement object 68.

A ring object 60 models a ring network 20. Ring object 60 may includefiber segment objects 62, where a fiber segment object 62 represents afiber segment. A line unit object 64 represents a line unit of ringnetwork 20. A line unit may refer to an interface device between a fiber26 of ring network 20 and a network element 24 of ring network 20.

Network element object 68 represents a network element 24 of ringnetwork 20. Network element object 68 includes component objects such asnetwork element ports 72, one or more station objects 76, and deviceports 80 coupled as shown. Network element ports 72 represent the portsof a network element 24. Station object 76 represents a station 28 ofnetwork element 24. According to the illustrated embodiment, a stationobject 76 includes station ports 84 and station spans 88. Station ports84 represent the ports of a station 28, and may be designated by theport identifiers of the ports of station 28. Spans 88 represent theconnections between station 28 and other components of network element24. Ports 80 represent the ports of devices that access station 28, andmay be designated by the ports identifiers of the ports.

A component of network element 24 may become a member of ring network 20by associating a component object representing the component with atleast a portion of ring object 60, such as a member object of ringobject 60. As an example, a network element 24 may become a member ofring network 20 by associating the network element object 68representing the network element 24 with a span 88 of ring object 60. Asanother example, a station 28 may become a member of ring network 20 byassociating the station object 76 representing the station 28 with ringobject 60.

Moreover, the relationships among members of ring network 20 may beestablished by selectively associating the portions of ring object 60.As an example, network element 24 may be connected to a specificconnection by associating the corresponding network element object 68with a span 88 representing the specific connection. As another example,station 28 may be connected to a specific connection by associating thecorresponding station object 76 with a span representing the specificconnection.

A component object may be associated with at least a portion of ringobject 60 in any suitable manner. As an example, the component objectmay be mapped to the portion in a table. The table may be stored at anysuitable place, for example, at network element 24 or other node.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to model 50 withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Model 50 may include more,fewer, or other components. Additionally, the components may be arrangedin any suitable manner without departing from the scope of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network 110 thatincludes a network element 124 that has a controller 132 that managesconnections of the network element 124. According to the embodiment,controller 132 establishes if a connection initiation event hasoccurred, and manages connections of network element 124 in response tothe event.

According to the illustrated embodiment, network 110 includes a ringnetwork 120. Ring network 120 includes network elements 124 coupled byfibers 126. Ring network 120, network elements 124, and fibers 126 maybe substantially similar to ring network 20, network elements 24, andfibers 26, respectively, of FIG. 1. Ring network 120 includes ringlets130. A ringlet may refer to a fiber that traverses a ring in onedirection. For example, ringlet 130 a traverses ring network 120 in onedirection, and ringlet 130 b traverses ring network 120 in the oppositedirection.

Network element 124 includes stations 128, a controller 132, memory 136,optical converters 144, and switch fabrics 148. Stations 128, controller132, and memory 136 may be substantially similar to stations 28,controller 32, and memory 36, respectively, of FIG. 1. Optical converter144 converts signals received from fiber 126 from an optical signal toan electrical signal, and converts a signal from network element 124from an electrical signal to an optical signal. Switch fabric 148directs signals received from a previous component to a next component.As an example, switch fabric 148 a directs signals received from opticalconverter 144 a to station 128 a. As another example, switch fabric 148b may direct signal from station 128 b to station 128 a and a signalfrom station 128 a to optical converter 144 a.

Controller 132 establishes if a connection initiation event hasoccurred, and manages connections of the components of network element124 in response to the event. Example components for which theconnections may be managed include switch fabric 148, stations 128,optical controller 144, or other suitable component.

Memory 136 may store connection data 140. Connection data may refer toany suitable data structure, such as a data table, that records theconnections between components of network element 124. As an example,connection data 140 may record connections among stations 128, switchfabrics 148, optical controllers 144, or any other suitable components.

Connection data 140 may include an entry for each connection, forexample, an entry for a connection 152 from switch fabric 148 a tostation 128 a. An entry may include a connection identifier and a pathdesignation. A connection identifier of a connection uniquely identifiesthe connection. A path designation of a connection may provide theendpoints of the connection, for example, the ports at which theconnection starts and ends.

To add a connection, controller 132 may add an entry corresponding tothe connection to connection data 140. As an example, to add connection152, controller 132 a may add an entry to connection data 140. To deletea connection, controller 132 may delete the entry corresponding to theconnection from connection data 140. As an example, to delete connection152, controller 132 a may delete the entry for connection 152.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to network 110without departing from the scope of the invention. The components ofnetwork 110 may be integrated or separated according to particularneeds. Moreover, the operations of network 110 may be performed by more,fewer, or other devices. Additionally, operations of network 110 may beperformed using any suitable logic.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method ofmanaging connections in response to the addition of a component to anetwork element. According to the embodiment, controller 132 b of FIG. 3manages connections in response to the addition of station 128 e.

The method begins at step 210, where controller 132 b detects theaddition of a station 128 e. Controller 132 b may detect the addition ofthe station 128 e by detecting that the interfaces of station 128 e havebeen coupled to appropriate interfaces of network element 124 b. Initialprovisioning is performed at step 214. Initial provisioning may include,for example, determining if the station 128 e is allowed to be coupledto network element 124 b. The initial provisioning may also includeidentifying the ring object to which the station 128 e belongs.

Bypass connections are deleted at step 218. A bypass connection mayrefer to a connection that bypasses a station. According to theillustrated example, connections 160 a-b bypass station 128 e.Controller 132 b may delete bypass connections 160 a-b by deletingentries corresponding to bypass connections 160 a-b from connection data140 b.

Pass-through connections are created at step 222. A pass-throughconnection may refer to a connection that passes through a station 128and allows the station 128 to route packets. According to theillustrated embodiment, pass-through connections 164 a-d allow station128 e to route signals. Controller 132 b may create pass-throughconnections 164 a-d by adding entries corresponding to pass-throughconnections 164 a-d to connection data 140 b. Provisioning is terminatedat step 226. After terminating the provisioning, the method terminates.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the method withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The method may include more,fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in anysuitable order without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method ofmanaging connections in response to the removal of a component to anetwork element. According to the embodiment, controller 132 b of FIG. 3manages connections in response to the removal of station 128 e.

The method begins at step 310, where controller 132 detects the removalof station 128 e. Controller 132 b may detect the removal of station 128e by detecting that the interfaces of station 128 e have been decoupledfrom interfaces of network element 124 b. Alternatively, controller 132b may detect the removal of station 128 e by determining that station128 e can no longer properly route signals.

Pass-through connections are deleted at step 318. According to theillustrated embodiment, pass-through connections 164 a-d allow station128 b to route signals. Controller 132 b may delete pass-throughconnections 164 a-d by deleting the entries for pass-through connections164 a-d from connection data 140 a. Bypass connections are created atstep 322. According to the illustrated embodiment, bypass connections160 a-b bypass station 128 b. Controller 132 b may create bypassconnections 160 a-b by adding entries for the bypass connections 160 a-bto connection data 140 b. Provisioning is terminated at step 326. Afterprovisioning is terminated, the method terminates.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the method withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The method may include more,fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in anysuitable order without departing from the scope of the invention.

Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technicaladvantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may be that a ringnetwork may be modeled by a ring object that is stored at a node of thering network. Modeling a ring network by a ring object may provide formore efficient provisioning of network elements. In addition, the ringobject may provide for more efficient identification of problems withthe ring network. Furthermore, the ring object may provide for moreefficient gathering and reporting of statistics describing the ringnetwork.

While this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodimentsand generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of theembodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does notconstrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterationsare also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure, as defined by the following claims.

1. A method comprising: creating a ring object modeling a ring networkof a network system, the network system comprising a plurality ofnetwork elements, each network element comprising a gateway, the ringnetwork configured to communicate a plurality of packets, each networkelement comprising a plurality of components, the ring object comprisinga plurality of provisioning properties, a provisioning propertydescribing configuring a component to become a member of the ringnetwork; associating the component with the ring object to allow thecomponent to become a member of the ring network, the associatedcomponent allowed to receive the plurality of packets, the componentassociated with the ring object by: deleting from connection data one ormore data entries that correspond to one or more bypass connections thatbypass the component; and adding to the connection data one or more dataentries that correspond to one or more pass-through connections thatpass through the component to allow the component to receive theplurality of packets; and storing the ring object at memory of eachnetwork element.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:associating a next component of a next network element with a next ringobject to allow the next component to become a member of the ringnetwork; and storing the next ring object at the memory of the nextnetwork element.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating thecomponent with the ring object to allow the component to become a memberof the ring network further comprises: establishing a component objectrepresenting the component; and mapping the component object to the ringobject.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the component withthe ring object to allow the component to become a member of the ringnetwork further comprises: establishing a component object representingthe component; and mapping the component object to a member object ofthe ring object, the member object representing a member of the ringnetwork.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing afailure of the component; and reporting the failure associated with thering object.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: gatheringstatistics describing the component; and reporting the statisticsassociated with the ring object.
 7. A network element comprising: amemory configured to: store a ring object modeling a ring network of anetwork system, the network system comprising a plurality of networkelements comprising the network element, each network element comprisinga gateway, the ring network operable to communicate a plurality ofpackets, each network element comprising a plurality of components, thering object comprising a plurality of provisioning properties, aprovisioning property describing configuring a component to become amember of the ring network; and a controller coupled to the memory andconfigured to: associate the component with the ring object to allow thecomponent to become a member of the ring network, the associatedcomponent allowed to receive the plurality of packets, the componentassociated with the ring object by: deleting from connection data one ormore data entries that correspond to one or more bypass connections thatbypass the component; and adding to the connection data one or more dataentries that correspond to one or more pass-through connections thatpass through the component to allow the component to receive theplurality of packets; and store the ring object at the memory of thenetwork element, each network element configured to store the ringobject.
 8. The network component of claim 7, the controller furtherconfigured to: associate a next component of a next network element witha next ring object to allow the next component to become a member of thering network; and store the next ring object at the memory of the nextnetwork element.)
 9. The network component of claim 7, the controllerfurther configured to associate the component with the ring object toallow the component to become a member of the ring network by:establishing a component object representing the component; and mappingthe component object to the ring object.
 10. The network component ofclaim 7, the controller further configured to associate the componentwith the ring object to allow the component to become a member of thering network by: establishing a component object representing thecomponent; and mapping the component object to a member object of thering object, the member object representing a member of the ringnetwork.
 11. The network component of claim 7, the controller furtherconfigured to: establish a failure of the component; and report thefailure associated with the ring object.
 12. The network component ofclaim 7, the controller further configured to: gather statisticsdescribing the component; and report the statistics associated with thering object.
 13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring logic when executed configured to: create a ring object modelinga ring network of a network system, the network system comprising aplurality of network elements, each network element comprising agateway, the ring network configured to communicate a plurality ofpackets, each network element comprising a plurality of components, thering object comprising a plurality of provisioning properties, aprovisioning property describing configuring a component to become amember of the ring network; associate the component with the ring objectto allow the component to become a member of the ring network, theassociated component allowed to receive the plurality of packets, thecomponent associated with the ring object by: deleting from connectiondata one or more data entries that correspond to one or more bypassconnections that bypass the component; and adding to the connection dataone or more data entries that correspond to one or more pass-throughconnections that pass through the component to allow the component toreceive the plurality of packets; and store the ring object at memory ofeach network element.
 14. The computer-readable media of claim 13,further configured to: associate a next component of a next networkelement with a next ring object to allow the next component to become amember of the ring network; and store the next ring object at the memoryof the next network element.
 15. The computer-readable media of claim13, further configured to associate the component with the ring objectto allow the component to become a member of the ring network by:establishing a component object representing the component; and mappingthe component object to the ring object.
 16. The computer-readable mediaof claim 13, further configured to associate the component with the ringobject to allow the component to become a member of the ring network by:establishing a component object representing the component; and mappingthe component object to a member object of the ring object, the memberobject representing a member of the ring network.
 17. Thecomputer-readable media of claim 13, further configured to: establish afailure of the component; and report the failure associated with thering object.
 18. The computer-readable media of claim 13, furtherconfigured to: gather statistics describing the component; and reportthe statistics associated with the ring object.
 19. A system comprising:means for creating a ring object modeling a ring network of a networksystem, the network system comprising a plurality of network elements,each network element comprising a gateway, the ring network configuredto communicate a plurality of packets, each network element comprising aplurality of components, the ring object comprising a plurality ofprovisioning properties, a provisioning property describing configuringa component to become a member of the ring network; means forassociating the component with the ring object to allow the component tobecome a member of the ring network, the associated component allowed toreceive the plurality of packets, the means for associating a componentwith the ring object comprising: means for deleting from connection dataone or more data entries that correspond to one or more bypassconnections that bypass the component; and means for adding to theconnection data one or more data entries that correspond to one or morepass-through connections that pass through the component to allow thecomponent to receive the plurality of packets; and means for storing thering object at memory of each network element.
 20. A method comprising:creating a ring object modeling a ring network of a network system, thenetwork system comprising a plurality of network elements, each networkelement comprising a gateway, the ring network configured to communicatea plurality of packets, each network element comprising a plurality ofcomponents, the ring object comprising a plurality of provisioningproperties, a provisioning property describing configuring a componentto become a member of the ring network; associating a component with thering object to allow the component to become a member of the ringnetwork, the associated component allowed to receive the plurality ofpackets, the component associated with the ring object by: deleting fromconnection data one or more data entries that correspond to one or morebypass connections that bypass the component; adding to the connectiondata one or more data entries that correspond to one or morepass-through connections that pass through the component to allow thecomponent to receive the plurality of packets; establishing a componentobject representing the component; mapping the component object to thering object; and mapping the component object to a member object of thering object, the member object representing a member of the ringnetwork; storing the ring object at memory of each network element;associating a next component of a network element with a next ringobject to allow the next component to become a member of the next ringnetwork; and storing the next ring object at the memory of the networkelement; establishing a failure of the component; reporting the failureassociated with the ring object; gathering statistics describing thecomponent; and reporting the statistics associated with the ring object.